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Raleigh Mennonite Church

As a Christian community, called to peacemaking and reconciliation, we affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender, who are gay or straight, of any ability, age, or economic status, are welcome to full participation in our congregation.

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Melissa Florer-Bixler

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

February 14, 2021

Melissa preaching on Zoom, Feb. 14, 2021

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Mark 9:2-9 After the reading of the 2 Kings passage, we listened to Robert Robinson sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. After the Mark passage Melissa shared a video performance of the theme from The Mission. Our world is chock full of beautiful things. Many things that are beautiful are unnecessary. The […]

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

Tagged With: beauty, COVID-19, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, transfiguration

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

January 31, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Jan. 31, 2021

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark 1:21-28 Melissa provided us with an alternative way of looking at this passage of Jesus in the synagogue and his encounter with the man with an unclean spirit. The language Mark uses throughout his gospel is that Jesus comes to “invade enemy territory.” Melissa ties this story in with the […]

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, domination, Fanny Lou Hamer, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, racism, W.E.B. Du Bois

The Faith of our Baptism – Jan. 10, 2021

January 10, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom, with several participants shown in the gallery above her.

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11, Acts 19:1-7 To what baptism have you been baptized? The story in Acts talks about Jesus’ followers being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This baptism gave them, among other things, the power to stand up to powerful and dangerous interests. In baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit to enter into this life […]

The Faith of our Baptism – Jan. 10, 2021

Tagged With: Acts, baptism, good news, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, white supremacy

Grief & Hope – Dec. 27, 2020

December 29, 2020

Ann doing a monologue as Anna in the temple

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40 – On the Road to Rejoicing The prophet Anna–portrayed this morning by Ann–witnessed Jesus’ arrival at the temple and foretold about the hope that Jesus would bring. What a strange Advent season it has been. Mourning the loss of life through COVID-19 and the racial injustice we continue to see. What have […]

Grief & Hope – Dec. 27, 2020

Tagged With: Ann Roberston, Anna, COVID-19, Gospel of Luke, grief, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Zoom

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

December 20, 2020

I Samuel 7:1-11, 16 & Luke 1:26-38 – On the Road to Revelation God selected Mary, a young woman to deliver the Lord Jesus in to the world. She was afraid and then heard a an angel’s voice “Greetings you who highly favored, the Lord is with you”. She heard the voice again “Don’t be […]

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of Luke, I Samuel, Jackie Parker, Mary, Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon

Called Out – Dec. 13, 2020

December 14, 2020

Hans with a scarf over his head and candlesticks behind him.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & John 1:6-8, 19-28 – On the Road to Restoration During Advent the sermon again began with a monologue. This Sunday Hans told the story of a person at the temple who witnessed the questioning of John the Baptist by the Sadducees and Pharisees. Melissa gave witness to activities taking place […]

Called Out – Dec. 13, 2020

Tagged With: Advent, COVID-19, Gospel of John, Hans Linnartz, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Prophet

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

November 22, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom.

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, 26:6-13 Jesus comes to bring a new rein, a new order of creation, and to invite us into it. It is a new world, an inversion. It’s built not on scarcity or fear, not bound to the way things are, but this rein that has already come into being in the life, […]

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

Tagged With: Christ the King, COVID-19, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

November 8, 2020

Melissa speaking via Zoom on Nov. 8, 2020

Melissa speaks from Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the bridesmaids. While one would think the moral is about not letting your lamps run out of oil, rather it’s about staying awake. We are all facing the problem of coming unprepared and then falling asleep. It’s a warning to each of us about the lives we […]

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, election, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

November 5, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom, Nov. 1, 2020

Revelation 7:9-17 This Sunday is both All Saints Day, when we remember those who have gone on before us, and just days away from a presidential election that is a source of anxiety and fear for many. All of this and so much more centered in the midst of the storm of a virus that […]

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, death, fear, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Revelation

Turning the World Upside Down – Oct. 18, 2020

October 18, 2020

Melissa Florer-Bixler

A commitment to live without harming others, a commitment to shared life and eating around a common table regardless of class status. These are the ways the Thessalonians receive and live out God’s life in Jesus. With practices that sound harmless but change everything, threaten people in power and turn the world upside down. Despite […]

Turning the World Upside Down – Oct. 18, 2020

Tagged With: Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon, Thessalonians

Joy: God’s Continual Nevertheless – Oct. 11, 2020

October 11, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom, with several others in gallery view.

Melissa continued our look at the book of Philippians, this week focusing on Phil. 4:1-9. Karl Barth called the joy Paul writes about in this book a “continual defiant ‘Nevertheless!’” In spite of everything, Paul’s joy is a protest against defeat. Where there is joy, death has not yet won. Melissa closed her message with […]

Joy: God’s Continual Nevertheless – Oct. 11, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, defiant, Joy, Melissa Florer-Bixler, nevertheless, Philippians

Running the race – Oct. 4, 2020

October 4, 2020

Shannon

Our scripture this week is Philippians 3:4-14. Paul writes from jail counseling the church he founded in Philippi. In the last verse Paul compares faith to a running race, working hard to reach the finish line to receive the prize, the prize God has for us in heaven. Shannon does exactly this with her running, […]

Running the race – Oct. 4, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Melissa Florer-Bixler, perseverance, Philippians, running, Shannon Hess

Re-membering through song – Sept. 27, 2020

September 27, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Sept. 27, 2020

Philippians 2:1-13 Melissa began her sermon with a song dedicated to Breonna Taylor (https://youtu.be/M88jVX47BTc) from Porter’s Gate, a multi-racial song writing collective. Using songs and hymns through the ages helps us stay centered and find hope in the midst of all that is going on in our world. The passage in Philippians may well have […]

Re-membering through song – Sept. 27, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Hymns, Justice, Melissa Florer-Bixler, peace, Phillipians, songs

This Little Light of Mine – July 5, 2020

July 5, 2020

Kathy speaking via Zoom on July 5, 2020

Matthew 5:14-16 Kathy Boos continued our summer series of sharing about a song or scripture passage that has been impactful. Melissa provided the scripture background from these verses from the Sermon on the Mount before Kathy shared her thoughts on the song. Kathy reflected on the importance of all kinds of music in her life, […]

This Little Light of Mine – July 5, 2020

Tagged With: Civil Rights, COVID-19, Gospel of Matthew, Kathy Boos, Melissa Florer-Bixler, peace, protests, songs

Great is thy faithfulness – June 28, 2020

June 28, 2020

Debbie preaching via Zoom

Lamentations 3:19-33 Debbie Bledsoe continues our summer series of sharing beloved songs and bible passages. Melissa introduces the passage from Lamentations, then Debbie shares from her experiences of God’s faithfulness in her life whether in the midst of hardships and change or joy and beauty. Morning by morning we can see new ways God loves […]

Great is thy faithfulness – June 28, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Debbie Bledsoe, faithfulness, lamentations, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, songs

Dying With Our Sins – June 21, 2020

June 21, 2020

Dave Cooper speaking on Zoom, with five other households listening in.

I Corinthians 15:1-6 In the continuing series of RMCers sharing a scripture or song that is particularly meaningful, Dave Cooper reflects on this passage from I Corinthians. Melissa introduces the passage before Dave shares and closes with the song When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Christ has freed us to a life of right relationships–with […]

Dying With Our Sins – June 21, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Dave Cooper, I Corinthians, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler

The Church Found Me – June 7, 2020

June 7, 2020

Screen shot of Zinith and small images of a few others tuning into the Zoom worship service on June 7, 2020

Zinith shares about how he came to Raleigh Mennonite. The recording starts with Loretta reading Ezekiel 34:11-16 and Melissa providing context…. Read More →

The Church Found Me – June 7, 2020

Tagged With: church, COVID-19, Ezekiel, Hymns, Loretta Shaia, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Zinith Barbee

Beyond Understanding – May 31, 2020

May 31, 2020

Acts 2:1-21 Just before Melissa’s message we watched a video portrayal of today’s scripture passage. The sermon ended with us listening to “Ella’s Song” sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock. This was a terrible week leading up to Pentecost Sunday, with a White woman making false accusations about a Black man, the police murdering […]

Beyond Understanding – May 31, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, COVID-19, George Floyd, languages, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Pentecost, racism

Reorienting Toward the Marginalized – May 24, 2020

May 24, 2020

Screen shot of the gallery view of people participating in a Zoom meeting

I Corinthians 8 As we continue our Zoom services online, Melissa continued her series talking about the church in Corinth. As we work at being church together at Raleigh Mennonite, we’re given this gift of seeing how this little church in Corinth worked out its conflicts, and how it might be good news for our […]

Reorienting Toward the Marginalized – May 24, 2020

Tagged With: church, conflict, COVID-19, I Corinthians, marginalized, Melissa Florer-Bixler

The Process of Being Saved – May 10, 2020

May 10, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom, with small photos of others at the top who attended the service.

Acts 18:1-4 I Corinthians 1:10-18 In the scripture passages for today we see the early church is in disarray. There is division and tumult. But Paul urges the church in Corinth to keep their focal point on one place: on Jesus. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but […]

The Process of Being Saved – May 10, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, COVID-19, cross, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Paul

Turning the World Upside Down – May 3, 2020

May 4, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on May 3, 2020.

Acts 17:1-9 In our city and in our country protests have been taking place that are tinged with “rights” language, including the right for churches to hold gatherings. But a few thousand years earlier a different scene played out that also concerned the state and religion. Paul and Silas and the other Christians have disrupted […]

Turning the World Upside Down – May 3, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, COVID-19, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, protests, Revolutionary

Eyes Fastened – April 26, 2020

April 26, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on April 26, 2020

Acts 3:1-10 There’s something new in this familiar scene for Peter and John as they encounter a beggar in front of the temple gates. Unlike many times they have walked this way before, they stop and acknowledge this lame man. They really see him. With new eyes, through the Holy Spirit. It’s an invitation for […]

Eyes Fastened – April 26, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, COVID-19, Holy Spirit, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler, miracles

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

April 20, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Holy Humor Sunday

I Corinthians 15:1-26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. But death is roaring all around us these days in the midst of the pandemic. That makes “Holy Humor Sunday,” a tradition of RMC for the last few years, a lot more difficult right now. But in many ways, our times are much less […]

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, holy humor, hope, humor, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

April 12, 2020

As we celebrated Easter Sunday together via Zoom, Melissa spoke from the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples are huddled together, afraid the Roman soldiers will find them and they too will be killed as Jesus was. Every person in the story recounted in this gospel is alone, in the dark. Only […]

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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PO Box 25545
Raleigh NC 27611
Phone: (919) 833-1182
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We are hosting our worship services on Zoom for the foreseeable future during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact us if you'd like to join.

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